Truck.



No. 643,653. Patented Feb. 20, I900.

. A. J. HOPKINS.

T R U C K (Application filed Oct. 25, 1899.)

(N0 Mode!) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW J. HOPKINS, OF BURTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,653, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed October 25 1 8 9 9.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW .I. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burton, in the county of Wetzel and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trucks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to trucks particularly adapted for use in handling oil -well tubes or pipes and in assisting in positioning the same for driving into the well.

It is well known to those familiar with the art in which this invention is employed that great difficulty is experienced and much labor expended in handling and in positioning the long heavy tubes or pipes when they are to be driven into the well, inasmuch as the tubes, which average from thirty to forty feet in length, have to be carried from the point where they lie, in a horizontal position, to the well or derrick, where one end of the tube is inserted inside the derrick beneath the crosstimbers and raised, as bya block and tackle, gradually to the vertical position over the bore. This operation is attended with difficulties. For instance, the lower end of the tube is dragged along the ground and has a tendency to creep or slip, which, if allowed, is apt to cause injury to the derrick and result dangerously by reason of the heavy tube falling or striking against the derrick-timbers. It is customary,to prevent this,to have sufiicient men at the lower end of the tube to assist in raising and holding the same from slipping or creeping.

It is one object of my invention to produce a simple device for supporting the lower end of the tube while being raised, guiding the same, and preventing the above-mentioned slipping or creeping.

It is a further object to construct the device in the form of a truck which can be used to assistin carrying the tube from a distan point to the derrick.

It is a further object to provide the device with means by which the end of a tube can be Serial No. 734,724. (No model.)

readily engaged, easily lifted, and supported while being transported to the derrick.

It is a further object so to construct the device that it will be particularly strong and powerful without being cumbersome or clumsy.

It is a further object to provide a generally improved and simple device for the purpose described.

With such and other objects in View the invention is embodied in the parts and novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown a practical form of device embodying my invention; but I desire it understood that I do not limit my invention to the particular form thereillustrated.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a device embodying the invention and showing in dotted lines 00 one end of a tube resting thereon, as when the device is used to carry the tube. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the rear end, showing the handle in section. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on line a 4, Fig. 2. 7

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the body or bottom of the truck or device. Firmly secured to the bottomA on the under side of its forward end is an axle-supporting block 13, and secured on the upper side of the bottom, above the block B, is a bearing or wear block 0 for supporting the tube indicated at T in a horizontal position. Seated and secured in a cross groove or channel I) in the under side of block B is an axle D, extending beyond each side of the body.

E E indicate wheels journaled on the ends of the axle and held away from the sides of the body by means of spacing-washers e.

A convenient and practical means of securing the axle D, blocks B C, and body together is shown in Fig. at, from which it will be seen that bolts F F, having eyes f, through 'portionsj.

c in the block 0. The block 13 is sufficiently cut away adjacent the eyes f to permit the bolts F d rawing the axle tightly into the groove Z). The block C is preferably provided on its upper surface with a curved seat 0 for the tube.

Side pieces G G extend rearwardly from block 0 at the sides of the body and are secured or fastened to the body, as by bolts 9 g. The side pieces are preferably beveled on their inner upper portions, as indicated at g.

H indicates a handle extending rearwardly and upwardly from the rear end of the truck and which may be provided with a suitable handpiece. (Not shown.) The handle is shown as secured to the under side of the body by means of a U bolt or clip I, passing up through the body and through a metal piece 1 and held by nuts '21. The handle extends along under the body to the forward end of the truck, passing through a channel 11 in the block 13, and terminates in an upwardly-extending hook or spur H.

H is a strengthening-piece for the spur 11, it having an angle part h 'secured by a bolt 7L3 to the block 13 and being united, as by welding, to the point end of the hook or spur.

J is a device serving the dual function of a supporting-leg for the rear end of the truck and a holding-dog to prevent the rearward slipping or creeping of the truck. It is preferably inclined slightly and is provided at its lower end with one or more teeth or engaging As the device J is subjected to severe strain, it in nst be securely fastened to the truck, and for this purpose it is provided with a forwardly-extending portion J, bolted to the truck by means of a bolt or boltsj passing therethrough and through the handle into the body A. At its forward end portion J is bent downwardly and secured to the block B, as by the bolt 7L3, which holds' the strengthening-piece H for the hook H. The handle is shown as constructed of piping; but this is not essential.

The device is intended to be used in sub stantially the following manner: The rear end of the tube T is placed on the bearing-block G, the forward end of the tube being carried by any suitable truck, (not shown,) and the tube, by means of the two trucks, is transported to the derricks. The forward end of the tube is then raised, and the rear end gradually inclines until it rests on the bottom of the truck A, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The operator then moves the truck along forwardly as the forward end of the tube is raised and the rear end approaches the derrick. The dog J, engaging the ground, prevents any rearward movement of the truck, thereby relieving the operator from the necessity of resisting such movement. If at any time the end of a tube rests on the ground, as where the tube is lying on the ground or where the end has fallen from a truck, the operator, instead of attempting to lift it by hand, engages the hook or spur II in the end of the tube, and by downward pressure on the handle, which serves as a lever with the fulcrum on the wheels, lifts and holds the end of the tube. The tube can be thus carried or guided without being placed on the body of the truck.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device for the purpose described, comprising a body, supporting-wheels, a bearingblock thereon, an operating handle, side pieces extending rearwardly from said bearing-block and above the surface of the body to prevent sidewise displacement from the body, and a forwardly-projecting engaging device, substantially as described.

2. A device for the purpose described, comprising a body, supporting-wheels, a bearingblock thereon, an operating-handle, and a dog rearwardly inclined and adapted to engage the supporting surface and prevent rearward movement of the truck, substantially as described.

A device for the purpose described, com prising a body, supporting-wheels at the forward end thereof, a bearing-block at the forward end of the body and extending above the same, arearward-projecting.handle, and a rearwardlyinclined dog having a biting lower end for supporting the rear end of the device and preventing rearward movement thereof, substantially as described.

f. A device for the purpose described, comprising a body, supporting-wheels at the for ward end thereof, a bearing-block at the forward end of the body and extending above the same, a rearward-projecting handle, and a rearwardly-inclined dog for supporting the rear end of the device and preventing rearward movement thereof, and a forwardly-projecting hook or spur, substantially as described.

5. Adevice for the purpose described, com' prising a body, supporting-wheels therefor, and a handle secured to the body extending beyond the forward end thereof and terminating in an engaging device for a tube, substantially as described.

6. A device for the purpose described, comprising a body, supporting-Wheels therefor, a handle secured to the body extending beyond the forward end thereof and terminating in a hook or spur, and a downwardly-projecting holding-dog. r

7. A device for the purpose described, comprising a body, supporting-wheels therefor, a block secured to the under side of the body, a handle secured to the under side of the body projecting forwardly beyond the body and terminating in a hook, a holding-dog secured to the under side of the body and having a portion secured to said block, and a strengthening-piece for said hook having a part secured to said block, substantially as described.

8. Adevioe for the purpose described, com- In testimony whereof I affix my signature prising a body, an axle-block below the same, in presence of two Witnesses. a bearing-block above the same, an axle, and ANDREW J HOPKINS bolts passing through the axle-block, body 5 and bearing-block and having eyes securing Witnesses:

said axle against the axle-block, substantially O. J. BARTING, as described. JOHN L. HUNT. 

